GH2014 POL028 FON FIN508

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
MANAGEMENT PROJECT (SFMP)
Central Region Coastal-Fishing
Communities Anti Child Labor and
Trafficking Sensitization Program

MARCH 2015

This publication is available electronically in the following locations:
The Coastal Resources Center

http://www.crc.uri.edu/projects_page/ghanasfmp/
Ghanalinks.org

https://ghanalinks.org/elibrary search term: SFMP
USAID Development Clearing House

https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/search.aspx search term: Ghana SFMP
For more information on the Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, contact:
USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project
Coastal Resources Center

Graduate School of Oceanography
University of Rhode Island
220 South Ferry Rd.
Narragansett, RI 02882 USA
Tel: 401-874-6224 Fax: 401-874-6920 Email: info@crc.uri.edu
Citation:

Friends of the Nation (2015). Central Region Coastal-Fishing Communities
Anti-ClaT Sensitization Program. The USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries
Management Project (SFMP). Narragansett, RI: Coastal Resources Center,
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island and Friends of the
Nation. GH2014_POL028_FON. 31 pp.

Authority/Disclaimer:
Prepared for USAID/Ghana under Cooperative Agreement (AID-641-A-15-00001), awarded
on October 22, 2014 to the University of Rhode Island, and entitled the USAID/Ghana
Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP).
This document is made possible by the support of the American People through the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views expressed and opinions
contained in this report are those of the SFMP team and are not intended as statements of

policy of either USAID or the cooperating organizations. As such, the contents of this report
are the sole responsibility of the SFMP team and do not necessarily reflect the views of
USAID or the United States Government.
Cover photo: Night film show in Ekumfi-Otuam (Credit: Kwadwo Kyei Yamoah - FoN)

i

Detailed Partner Contact Information:
USAID/Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP)
10 Obodai St., Mempeasem, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 0302 542497 Fax: +233 0302 542498

Maurice Knight
Kofi Agbogah
Nii Odenkey Abbey
Bakari Nyari
Brian Crawford
Justice Odoi

Chief of Party maurice@crc.uri.edu

Senior Fisheries Advisor kagbogah@henmpoano.org
Communications Officer nii.sfmp@crcuri.org
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist hardinyari.sfmp@crcuri.org
Project Manager, CRC brian@crc.uri.edu
USAID Administrative Officer Representative Jodoi@usaid.gov

Kofi.Agbogah
kagbogah@henmpoano.org
Stephen Kankam
skankam@henmpoano.org
Hen Mpoano
38 J. Cross Cole St. Windy Ridge
Takoradi, Ghana
233 312 020 701

Thomas Buck
tom@ssg-advisors.com
SSG Advisors
182 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401

(802) 735-1162
Victoria C. Koomson
cewefia@gmail.com
CEWEFIA
B342 Bronyibima Estate
Elmina, Ghana
233 024 427 8377

Andre de Jager
adejager@snvworld.org
SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
#161, 10 Maseru Road,
E. Legon, Accra, Ghana
233 30 701 2440

Lydia Sasu
daawomen@daawomen.org
DAA
Darkuman Junction, Kaneshie Odokor
Highway

Accra, Ghana
233 302 315894

Donkris Mevuta
Kyei Yamoah
info@fonghana.org
Friends of the Nation
Parks and Gardens
Adiembra-Sekondi, Ghana
233 312 046 180

Gifty Asmah
giftyasmah@Daasgift.org
Daasgift Quality Foundation
Headmaster residence, Sekondi College
Sekondi, Western Region, Ghana
233 243 326 178

Peter Owusu Donkor
Spatial Solutions

powusu-donkor@spatialdimension.net
#3 Third Nautical Close,
Nungua, Accra, Ghana
233 020 463 4488

For additional information on partner activities:
CRC/URI:
http://www.crc.uri.edu
CEWEFIA:
http://cewefia.weebly.com/
DAA:
http://womenthrive.org/development-action-association-daa
Daasgift:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daasgift-Quality-FoundationFNGO/135372649846101
Friends of the Nation: http://www.fonghana.org
Hen Mpoano:
http://www.henmpoano.org
SNV:
http://www.snvworld.org/en/countries/ghana
SSG Advisors:

http://ssg-advisors.com/
Spatial Solutions:
http://www.spatialsolutions.co/id1.html

ii

ACRONYMS
CEWEFIA

Central and Western Region Fishmongers Improvement Association

CLaT

Child Labour and Trafficking

CR

Central Region

CRC

Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island

CSO

Civil Society Organization

DA

District Authorities

DAA

Development Action Association

DSW

Department of Social Welfare

FiC

Fisheries Commission

FoN

Friends of Nation

GOG

Government of Ghana

ILO

International Labour Organization

IOM

International Organization for Migration

LEAP

Livelihood Enhancement Against Poverty

MOFAD

Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development

MGCSP

Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

SNV

Netherlands Development Organization

UCEW

University College of Education - Winneba

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... v
FOREWARD ............................................................................................................................. 1
OBJECTIVE OF THE SFMP .................................................................................................... 2
COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION MEETINGS ...................................................................... 2
PROCEEDINGS ........................................................................................................................ 3
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES’ REPORT ............................................................................. 4
Ekumfi-Narkwa...................................................................................................................... 4
Incidences of CLaT within the community ....................................................................... 5
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT .................................................. 6
Eku- Mpoano ......................................................................................................................... 6
Incidences of CLaT within the community ....................................................................... 6
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT .................................................. 7
Ekumfi-Immuna ..................................................................................................................... 7
Incidences of CLaT within the community ....................................................................... 7
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT .................................................. 8
Ekumfi-Otuam ..................................................................................................................... 11
Incidences of CLaT within the community ..................................................................... 11
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT ................................................ 12
Mumford (Dwoma) .............................................................................................................. 14
Incidences of CLaT within the community ..................................................................... 14
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT ................................................ 14
Gomoa-Dago ........................................................................................................................ 15
Incidences of CLaT within the community ..................................................................... 15
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT ................................................ 17
Anomabo .............................................................................................................................. 17
Incidence of CLaT in the community .............................................................................. 17
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT ................................................ 19
Abandze ............................................................................................................................... 19
Incidences of Child Labor and Trafficking in the Community........................................ 19
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT ................................................ 19
Biriwa ................................................................................................................................... 20
Incidences of CLaT in the Community................................................................................ 20
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT .................................................... 20
iv

SNAPSHOTS OF STORIES FROM VICTIMS OF CLaT ................................................. 21
RECOMMENDATIONS: WHAT THE COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS
WANT TO, OR CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE CLaT .......................................................... 22
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 23

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Canoes berthing on the wetlands in Immuna .............................................................. 7
Figure 2 Cross-section of pupils in Immuna .............................................................................. 9
Figure 3 Regent of Immuna addressing gathering ..................................................................... 9
Figure 4 Community anti-CLaT Advocacy Volunteers........................................................... 10
Figure 5 Young Community anti-CLaT Advocate .................................................................. 10
Figure 6 A victim of CLaT addressing the gathering .............................................................. 11
Figure 7 A victim of CLaT addressing the gathering .............................................................. 12
Figure 8 Anti-CLaT advocate admonishing community ......................................................... 13
Figure 9 Cross-section of Community leadership ................................................................... 13
Figure 10 Children and others at night film show ................................................................... 16
Figure 11 Anti-CLaT advocacy drama .................................................................................... 16
Figure 12 Cross-section of audience at night film show.......................................................... 18
Figure 13 Attentive audience at night film show ..................................................................... 18

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Strategies and responsible persons from Ekumfi-Narkwa ............................................ 6
Table 2 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Eku-Mpoano ............................................. 7
Table 3 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Ekumfi-Immuna ....................................... 8
Table 4 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Ekumfi-Otuam........................................ 12
Table 5 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Mumford. ............................................... 14
Table 6 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Gomoa-Dago. ......................................... 17
Table 7 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Anomabo. ............................................... 19
Table 8 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Abandze.................................................. 19
Table 9 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Biriwa. .................................................... 20

v

FOREWARD
In order to raise awareness about the negative effects of activities of Child Labor and
Trafficking (CLaT) within source communities, Friends of the Nation (FoN) as part of the
Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) anti-CLaT initiative embarked upon a
community sensitization program in nine identified communities in February, 2016.
Using drama and discussions (day time); and film-shows and discussions (at night), the team
was able to facilitate a successful engagement with the communities. It also succeeded to get
a pool of volunteers in each community who volunteered to act as Community Anti-CLaT
Advocates and Whistle-blowers. The volunteers will be further supported and resourced to
reduce the incidence of CLaT the communities, and promote human rights, and the welfare of
children.
The history, and magnitude of Child Labour and Trafficking (CLaT) in fisheries within the
coastal fishing communities in the Central Region was determined through respondents and it
pointed clearly as a fishing activity linked issue. Children from the coastal fishing
communities are relatively better swimmers compared to children from other areas of the
country. Culturally, these are communities that are already steeped deep into fishing and
everything revolved around fisheries. Therefore, taking children from poor families (who
hardly are able to put food on the table on daily basis) because are good swimmers or
conversant with fish processing, or both to go do same in other geographical areas for
perceived rewards was a matter of course.
Poverty and deprivation were noted as the main reason why families gave their children
away. Declining fish harvest has seriously deepened poverty in the coastal fishing
communities where there are hardly any other viable forms of livelihood activities. Many
single-parent female-headed households who are among the lowest rungs of the poor send
their children away to assist others for a fee, thinking they are helping both themselves and
the trafficked child. Therefore the issue of CLaT has profound gender dimensions that should
be paid attention to by the appropriate authorities with adequate interventions.
Stakeholders have expressed worry that despite the enormous potentials in the Central
Region, it has been ranked the fourth poorest area in the country in a recent Ghana Living
Standards Survey, conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. The region which has some of
the best educational institutions, tourist attractions and other economic ventures in the
country is an enigma in terms of development issues, notably CLaT.
The region which played significant roles in national development since the colonial period,
through to the independence and post-independence era, has 14 major fish landing beaches.
Sanitation has been an issue with the region for a long time and all the beaches except a few
are littered with human excreta and plastic waste which is bad for fisheries hygiene.
Deteriorating academic performance of students at the basic education level in the region in
general and the coastal areas in particular has deprived students in accessing some of the
prestigious second cycle schools located in the area, thus compounding the unemployment
rate in the region and pushing more and more persons into fisheries, and also CLaT.
The gaps in law enforcement should be plugged to contribute to reducing the expenses made
in rescuing and rehabilitating victims. The fact that some police post are just besides
embarking points in communities is disturbing. This shows that either the law enforcement
agencies are not conversant with that aspect of the law, or they are just playing into the hands
of traffickers who may induce them to turn their attention to ‘’more serious things’’.

1

Ignorance is however no excuse and complicity is a crime. Children’s rights are human rights
and should be treated as such.
Lastly though the SFMP is about contributing to resuscitating Ghana’s fisheries, managing
the fisheries is actually about managing people efforts by Friends of the Nation (FoN) and
partners to bring to fore the drivers of CLaT and propose actions that will contribute to a
clean, and sustainable fisheries for now and the upcoming generations.

OBJECTIVE OF THE SFMP
As part of the Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP), FoN conducted a
comprehensive assessment of Child Labour and Trafficking (CLaT) problem in the Central
Region which aimed at identifying communities and households most susceptible to such
practices to unearth the root drivers of the problem, and gather up-to-date information in
collaboration with Coastal Resources Centre -Ghana, Netherlands Development Organization
(SNV) and the Fisheries Commission. Other partners in this activity were Central and
Western Fishmongers Improvement Association (CEWEFIA) and Development Action
Associates (DAA).
The purpose of the SFMP is to “Rebuild targeted fish stocks through adoption of sustainable
practices and exploitation levels’’. This project will forge a campaign that is aimed at
facilitating building a constituency for change that captures the support of high-level
decision-makers and politicians, as well as grass-roots fishermen, fishmongers and
processors.
The SFMP seeks to build on gains and lessons learned by the USAID/Ghana Integrated
Coastal Fisheries Governance initiative (ICFG) to scale up the latter’s successful model for
improving law enforcement effectiveness; and extend the Geographical Information Systems
(GIS) capacities from the Western to the Central Region (CR) Coordinating Council (RCC),
and nine district assemblies (DAs) in the CR.

COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION MEETINGS
Nine (9) community sensitization meetings on CLaT were organized by FoN in selected
communities in the Central Region. The community CLaT meetings focused on behavior
change communications to reduce child labor and Trafficking activities in fisheries. The
meeting were held in the following communities; Ekumfi-Narkwa, Eku-Mpoano, EkumfiOtuam, Ekumfi-Immuna, Gomoa-Dago, Mumford. Abandze, Anomabo and Biriwa
Participants for the communities meetings were from; Representative from District
Assemblies, Local Traditional Leaders, Assembly Members, Chief fishermen, community
opinion leaders, representatives of identifiable groups, women fish mongers, fisher folks,
Vulnerable households identified during the CLaT survey, Local Media persons, Social
Welfare Officers, Youth, Selected basic schools and school children, etc.
The meetings involved the use of Power-point Presentation with simple illustrations, Film
shows on CLaT, community drama and cultural performance to sensitize the community
members about the bad and hazardous effects of CLaT on Children and appeal to them to
stop the practice. Also key community leaders and other representatives Social Welfare Dept.
Marine Police, etc. gave speeches with the following key messages to the audience:




CLaT has negative and hazardous effect on the psychological, Physical, Health and
Social wellbeing of Children
It is Illegal to traffic children and or engages them in hazardous labor.
Birth spacing (family planning) is relevant to ensure small manageable family size.
2





Responsible parenting is key to ensure the protection of children.
Children have rights and should be respected.
CLaT practices are illegal and there is the urgent need for community actions to stop
such practices.

The Key Output of the community meetings included the following;





Community members were sensitized on the negative effects of CLaT.
Key follow-up actions to reduced CLaT were also identified and discussed.
Community Local Actions were developed by community members.
Nomination of community members for the Anti-CLaT local committees was made.

PROCEEDINGS
The SFMP (initiative) was always elucidated on in the opening remarks by the FoN team.
This was always done (in each community gathering) after the community’s leadership had
welcomed the visiting team with a “welcome statement”.
A brief was given on the objectives of SFMP CLaT intervention as: to contribute to
prevention of child labour and trafficking activities in communities within the coastal
communities of Central Region.
Activities carried out so far was highlighted and light thrown on findings from
comprehensive assessment of the problem in the fisheries industry of Central Region which
was done to identify communities and households vulnerable to such practices; and specific
issues pertaining to individual communities highlighted to the audience.
The key findings that the survey made and mentioned to the communities were the following:








Single-parent female-headed families are very susceptible especially where the female
head has no sustainable income.
Divorced women with children from previous relationships who remarry other men
are tricked into getting rid of the children by selling them off into child work by their
new partners.
Single women with children with ‘troublesome character’ give them off to other men.
This is so that the children could ‘’have a father-figure or disciplinarian around,’’ but
ends up with bitter experiences or been sold.
Homes where the fathers do not honor their responsibilities of catering for the
children, this includes providing them with the basic necessities of life.
Inadequacy of social amenities in the coastal fishing areas and deprivation make life
elsewhere appear better. Therefore parents give out their children hoping for better
life for them.
Large family sizes due to inadequate access to birth spacing (family planning)
commodities was noted as a contributing factor for CLaT.
Some families migrate and ensemble as workers and sometimes the whole family are
engaged as laborer including the children.

In addition to the above, after the performance of the drama, questions start coming and the
planned 3-hour programmes sometimes went as far as 4 hours and over. This is because of
the sensitivity of the issue, the depth of interest and recognition of the issue as pertaining to
them; and the magnitude of prevalence in the communities.

3

The scenes in the drama covered the dependent variables which causes parent to give their
children to perpetrators (family members and strangers) of the act. It also captured the
challenges the children go through when they are sent to destination-communities.
The last item in which the drama unfolds was the effect of CLaT on the society. Community
members appreciated the story of the drama, and therefore articulated their take on the issue
for adequate and sustainable redress.
The community stakeholder engagements were done in the mornings and afternoons. The
evening was utilized to a show video-documentary on CLaT (causes, effect, challenges,
success stories) titled the Fisher Boys (made in 2008 by the Christian Council of Ghana) to
enlighten the community members on the reality of the menace. Participants came out with
strategies to curb CLaT in the communities.
Key issues across the communities included:










Increased deviant behaviors among the youth.
Increased gambling activities among the youth and adolescents.
Increased teenage pregnancy.
Increased improper method of abortion.
Increased in truancy by school children.
Dereliction of responsibility by fathers in the care of their children.
Prioritization of socially non-essential issues over upkeep and education for children
by mothers.
At the end of each community program, volunteers were courted to assist in
implementing the strategies (look at recommendations) were appointed.
Many dignitaries at the meetings expressed their concern about the existence of CLaT
in the communities and stated their readiness to join forces with stakeholders to
eradicate CLaT in the communities.

Various communities made recommendations on CLaT prevention. Proposed strategies for
combatting the menace or were developed and summarized in the following sections.

INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES’ REPORT
Ekumfi-Narkwa
Ekumfi-Narkwa is a coastal-fishing community in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region.
It is inhabited by the indigenous Ekumfi-Fantes with patches of migrant populations
especially from amongst the Gas and Ewes from the Greater-Accra and Volta Regions
respectively.
Coconut plantations encircle the community and also, people carry out farming at subsistence
level in porous and an increasingly infertile soil. These had contributed to poverty in the
community with vast majority of the people living as migrants in other towns in Ghana and
outside (especially in La Cote d’Ivoire).
The Ghana Investments Promotion Company (GIPC) had over a decade plans to establish an
integrated Chlorine Alkali and salt winning facilities with an initial output of 415,478 tons,
yielded from an area of 509,040m2 (located between Ekumfi Narkwa and Assafa) at a total
cost estimated at 60,000,000 USD. The project location provides easy access to potential
markets of oil and gas companies operating from Takoradi and other neighbouring West
African countries.

4

Incidences of CLaT within the community

It was reported that the number of school drop-outs in and within the community’s environs
has risen over the years, thus forcing many ‘frustrated’ teachers there to seek transfers to
other schools. Reports from the Ghana Education Service (GES) say teachers in the town
have threatened to leave primary and JSS schools in the area because the pupils prefer going
fishing to attending school. This has affected the academic standard of pupils in the area and
predisposing them to fisheries at very young ages.
The situation very precarious with many of the girl-child pupils amongst them are regularly
sent to neighboring countries especially, La Cote d'Ivoire to either process, smoke or sell fish.
The boys are also sent to Yeji to fish and serve as "fishing mates".
Mrs. Corazon Amissah of the Department of Social Welfare in the Ekumfi District appealed
to parents in the community to take proper care of their wards and provide them with the
needed members for effective teaching and learning at school to make the more productive
members of the society in future rather than jeopardize it by given the off at ridiculously low
amounts of money. An elder of Nakwa, Opanyin Kojo Essoun assured officers on the SFMPFoN team that everything possible would be done to create awareness on the need to send
children who are the future leaders of the country to school.
Opanyin Kojo Essoun, an elder of the community appealed to the District Assembly and the
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to assist the parents who are mostly
fishermen and fishmongers with some financial assistance to be able to take their wards to,
and retain them school.
Getting children to stay in school and completing their education is one sure way of keeping
children away from being victims of CLaT, and also facilitating them to become more
responsible and productive members of the society – hopefully, advocates and practitioners
of sustainable and responsible fisheries.

5

Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 1 Strategies and responsible persons from Ekumfi-Narkwa

NO

STRATEGIES

1

Establishment of by-laws

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

2

Patrol by watch dog committee members

3

The Local Government Assembly to enforce bylaws to the letter

-

Unit Comm. Members

-

Traditional leaders

Local anti-CLaT Advocates
-

Ekumfi
Assembly

District

-

Local
Advocates

anti-CLaT

-

Traditional leaders

4

Report irresponsible parents to the DSW

Local anti-CLaT Advocates

5

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

FoN,
Local
Advocates

anti-CLaT

Eku- Mpoano
Eku-Mpoano is a coastal-fishing community in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region. It
is inhabited by the indigenous Ekumfi-Fantes with Ewes from the Volta Region as a
dominant migrant group.
Coconut plantations encircle the community and also, people carry out farming at subsistence
level in porous and an increasingly infertile soil. These had contributed to poverty in the
community with vast majority of the people living as migrants in other towns in Ghana and
outside (especially in Jomoro District of the Western Region, and in La Cote d’Ivoire).
Incidences of CLaT within the community

There have many been reported cases of interception of busloads of children from the
community who were being transported to the Western Region to join the parents during
school holidays. Many times, the children of the community who are usually living with
grandparents themselves opt to be taken out due to the drudgery of the place. They hear
stories of “better life” outside the community and want to leave. Fish processors are very
keen on engaging girl-children and send them regularly La Cote d'Ivoire to either process,
smoke or sell fish. The boys are also sent to Yeji to fish and serve as "fishing mates".
Mrs. Corazon Amissah of the DSW in the Ekumfi District appealed to parents in the
community to take proper care of their wards and provide them with the needed accessories
at school to make the more productive members of the society in future rather than jeopardize
their lives by given them off for a pittance.
The women amongst the gathering lamented the carefree nature of men who are irresponsible
towards the care of their children, thus burdening women with the upkeep of children, and
6

also the manner in which men in the community chase young under-aged girls for sex which
usually results in teenage pregnancy. Children from these young mothers usually grow up to
be victims of CLaT as their young single-mothers are not able to fend for them. The services
of Ghana Health Service (GHS) in availing pregnancy prevention and birth spacing services
to all females of reproductive bracket was recommended.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 2 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Eku-Mpoano

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

Enactment anti-CLaT of by-laws

Watch dog committee

3

The assembly to enforce by-laws to the letter

Local anti-CLaT Advocates

4

Report irresponsible parents to DSW

Local anti-CLaT Advocates
Traditional leaders

5

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

Local anti-CLaT Advocates

Ekumfi-Immuna
Ekumfi-Immuna is a coastal-fishing community in the Ekumfi District of the Central Region.
It is inhabited by the indigenous Ekumfi-Fantes with Anlo-Ewes from the Volta Region as a
dominant migrant group. Saddled between pristine wetlands and the sea, it is an ageing
community as most of the youth have left to seek greener pastures elsewhere and leaving
very young children and the elderly behind.
Coconut plantations devastated by the Cape St. Paul’s Wilt Disease encircle the community.
Inhabitants carry out farming at subsistence level in porous and an increasingly infertile soil.
The coastline is also being ravaged by sea erosion with residents reporting that four rows
(about 35 metres of coconut trees have been razed down by the invading sea. Loss of the
coconut has contributed to the increased poverty situation in the community.

Figure 1 Canoes berthing on the wetlands in Immuna

Incidences of CLaT within the community

Immuna has been cited as a bastion of CLaT with several arrests or interdictions made on the
roads by the police at the Moree police checkpoint (near Cape Coast) and the Newtown
Border crossing point (in Jomoro District) of busloads of children being transported from the
community during school holidays to assist their parents and relatives. Interviews conducted
7

by the police and immigration officials however usually bring out conflicting feedbacks from
the drivers of the vehicles, and the passengers (suspected trafficked children).
Few NGOs (notably the International Organization for Migration – IOM) has been present in
the community and brought in a number of rescued victims from the Yeji area but that effort
has not been sustainable as many returnees themselves later left because their elderly
grandparents and relatives could not take care of them.
Many adults and young persons in the community claimed they had been victims. There were
also a few teenage young mothers who claimed they were impregnated by fishermen at Yeji
because they needed food which their masters and mesdammes hardly give them in sufficient
quantities.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 3 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Ekumfi-Immuna

NO

STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

Collaborate with the Assembly to enforce the
laws

Unit committee, Chiefs

By- laws need to enacted

Traditional leaders

The assembly to enforce by-laws to the letter

CLaT prevention volunteers

Irresponsible parents will be reported to the
DSW

Assembly

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

CLaT prevention volunteers

Children who indulge in criminality needs to be
handed over to the police.

Community

6.

Report fathers shirking their parental duties
should to the appropriate institution or agency
and made to live up to his responsibilities.

Community and family elders.

7.

Birth spacing strategies needs to be adopted

Ghana Health Service

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

8.

8

Figure 2 Cross-section of pupils in Immuna

Figure 3 Regent of Immuna addressing gathering

9

Figure 4 Community anti-CLaT Advocacy Volunteers

Figure 5 Young Community anti-CLaT Advocate

10

Ekumfi-Otuam
Ekumfi-Otuam is a coastal-fishing community in the Ekumfi District. It is bordered by a very
rocky coast thus forcing many of its artisanal fishermen to berth most of their canoes in
nearby Gomoa-Dago, Mumford and Apam. They also migrate as far as Abuesi in the Shama
District of the Western Region where they have a strong and huge diaspora.
Coconut plantations curtain the community on the east and west ends and the coast. There are
few patches of piggery activities interspersing human dwellings towards the western end of
the community. Poverty is endemic in the community with a few persons during a recent
survey in the community to unearth causes of CLaT in the community listing their profession
as “beggars”!
The community has got a new second cycle school built in it but located about 8km to the
north with students having to walk in and out to school each day.
Incidences of CLaT within the community

Otuam is recognized by neighboring communities as a place to source children for CLaT.
There is a house named “Cotonou House” where any family in need can simply walk in and
trade a child for some amount of money. These victim-children are then trafficked to
Cotonou in the Republic of Benin where they are engaged in fisheries.
It was reported that, indeed just on the eve of the arrival of the SFMP-FoN team for the
sensitization program, a busload of children had been trafficked to Yeji.

Figure 6 A victim of CLaT addressing the gathering

11

Figure 7 A victim of CLaT addressing the gathering

Also, after the talk, drama and discussion during the day, and film show and discussions at
night, there were reports of a lot of households that were in turmoil because “uncles” stated
demanding the whereabouts of the nephews. This is a positive sign of the impact that
sensitization and awareness raising could achieve. This should therefore be made regular.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 4 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Ekumfi-Otuam.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

Enactment of by-laws

Unit committee members

2

Patrol by watch dog committee members

CLaT prevention volunteers

3

The Assembly to enforce by-laws to the latter

4

Fathers shirking their parental duties should be
reported to the appropriate institution or agency
and made to live up to his responsibilities.

Families, community leadership,
DSW

5

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

NGOs and anti-CLaT advocates

6

Birth spacing strategies needs to be adopted

GHS and community leadership

12

Figure 8 Anti-CLaT advocate admonishing community

Figure 9 Cross-section of Community leadership

13

Mumford (Dwoma)
Mumford (which is also known as Dwoma) is a coastal-fishing community in the GomoaWest District. It is home to several semi-industrial artisanal fishing vessels and thus a vibrant
fishing activity. It is bordered by a very rocky coast and boisterous sea with the fishers
regularly calling for the construction of a breakwater to improve fishing, and also contribute
to improvement of livelihood activity in the community and surrounding areas.
On the west of Mumford are pristine wetlands at which’s banks live a migrant Anlo-Ewe
artisanal fisher folk settlement. To the north-west are hills and subsistence level food crop
farms.
Mumford is home to a vibrant association of fisher leaders in the semi-industrial sector and
often cited in discourse when talking about fisheries in the Central Region.
Incidences of CLaT within the community

Mumford has an infamous reputation as home of perpetrators of CLaT. They are reported to
entice children and families from neighboring communities to send their children in CLaT.
There are reports that suggest that many members of cartels that control CLaT in fisheries in
Ghana are coordinated from a leadership in Mumford.
Reports from surrounding communities also suggest that, a gang of perpetrators from
Mumford go round enticing young children and teenagers to run away from home to be
engaged in fishing elsewhere in the country. One sick widow (in Otuam) reported that the
disappearance of her four children five years ago has been linked to an invisible gang in
Mumford. She has no news of them since half-a-decade (rumors suggest they are in La Cote
d’Ivoire.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 5 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Mumford.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

Education at the basic level need to be encouraged
and enforced

Unit committee members

2

Watch dog committee must be supported by
traditional leaders

Traditional leaders

3

The assembly to enforce by-laws to the latter

District Assembly

4

Irresponsible parents to reported to the DSW

Anti-CLaT volunteers

5

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

6

Male teachers who entice girl-students’ for sex needs
to be reported sanctioned appropriately.

Community leadership and
GES.

7

Community members monitor for misconduct

Unit Committee

8

Birth spacing strategies needs to be adopted

GHS

14

Gomoa-Dago
Gomoa-Dago is a coastal-fishing community in the Gomoa-West District. A hilly coastal
community with a rocky beach and pristine wetlands to west, it is inhabited mainly by the
indigenous Gomoa-Fante people. Though the wetland has a lot of mangroves, it appears to
be shrinking during the dry (harmattan) season.
Inhabitants carry out farming at subsistence level in porous and an increasingly infertile soil.
These had contributed to poverty in the community.
The community has a strong leadership in the form of the Unit Committee, Chiefs and elders
and also the person of the immediate-past Presiding Member of the local District Assembly.
Incidences of CLaT within the community

There are many been reported cases of children from the community who have been
trafficked and the DSW was actually following upon a few cases when the SFMP-FoN team
visited. It was reported that many secret operators (perpetrators) work in collusion with others
from neighboring Mumford to entice families to give out their children. Indeed during the
night film-show session, two males among the audience who were conversing said “we
thought they were coming to tell us something useful, not knowing they were just
bringing nonsense!”
Fish processors are very keen on engaging girl-children and send them regularly La Cote
d'Ivoire to either process, smoke or sell fish. The boys are also sent to Yeji to fish and serve
as "fishing mates" to the neglect of any schooling or training in a vocation.
The women amongst the gathering openly criticized their menfolk for their irresponsible
attitude towards the care of their children, thus burdening women with the upkeep of
children. Some also lamented the manner in which men in the community chase young
under-aged girls for sex which usually results in teenage pregnancy (reporting that even some
male school teachers are part of this ignominy). Children from these young mothers usually
grow up to be victims of CLaT as their young single-mothers are not able to fend for them.

15

Figure 10 Children and others at night film show

Figure 11 Anti-CLaT advocacy drama

16

Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 6 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Gomoa-Dago.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

Enact by-laws

Unit committee members

2

The assembly to enforce by-laws to the letter

Anti-CLaT Advocates

3

Community members monitor for misconduct

Unit Committee;

4

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

Traditional leaders

5

Parent to collaborate with institutions and agencies

Unit Comm. & Dist.
Assembly

7

Birth spacing strategies to be adopted

GHS, Unit Committee

8

Report CLaT practices to the police and DSW

Anti-CLaT advocates, U.C

Anomabo
Anomabo is a coastal fishing community in the Mfantseman District. Most men and women
are fishermen and fish processors and mongers respectively though. There is a big diaspora of
people who hail from or trace their ancestry from here. Fishing is the main occupation unlike
other areas where most fisher folks attached farming as a supporting form of livelihood
during the low catching seasons.
Incidence of CLaT in the community

Most parents/guardians prefer to engage their children in fishing activities to enable them
take over in the future when they are no longer active and strong. Fishermen intimated that
children are more hard-working than adults and thus, they prefer engaging children in their
work, rather than adults. Others commented that children are easy to deal with in terms of
payment and control with adult demanding higher wages though they work less.
Though children are trafficked to other communities (notably the Volta Lake area), many of
them are engaged in the community’s fishing activities. Most adults commented on issues of
“sex for fish” and large family size. Some also hinted the large family size makes them
vulnerable to CLaT when the many mouths cannot be fed.

17

Figure 12 Cross-section of audience at night film show

Figure 13 Attentive audience at night film show

18

Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 7 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Anomabo.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

The assembly to collaborate with Traditional
Authorities to help curb CLaT.

Unit committee members

2

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

Traditional leaders

3

Increase educational outreach programs to the
community

NGOs, GES, GHS

4

Parents to collaborate with institutions and agencies

Assemblymen, Unit Comm.

5

Birth spacing strategies needs to be adopted

Ghana Health Service

Abandze
Abandze is a coastal fishing community in the Mfantseman District (the main economic
livelihood being fishing and fish marketing). With a slightly rocky beach, the coast is a bay
fringed by a lot of coconut trees. An estuary of a medium size river flows into the sea at the
astern boundary of the community.
The community has a strong fisherfolk leadership who are well-respected among the
fisherfolk leadership throughout the Central Region. The Chief Fisherman here is also the
President of the Region Chapter of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen’s Council
(GNCFC).
Incidences of Child Labor and Trafficking in the Community

Girls The females normally help their parents in fish smoking activities and the males help in
fishing. The children are sent out because the parents are not financially sound which leads
to the inability to not sending their children to school and they don’t pay them much. Many
children on their own abandon school for the beach to work in times of bumper harvest.
Children are giving out (trafficked) to help others in other communities because most parents
are not financially sound which leads to the inability to not sending their children to school
claiming they do not earn much from their fishing and fish processing activities. They are
normally sent to Yeji and La Cote d’Ivoire and they are involved in child work in fishing.
All these happen due to poor parental care.
Dropping out of school by girls due to pregnancy is common among teenage girls.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 8 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Abandze.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1

Establishment of by-laws to deal with CLaT
situations

Unit committee members

2

The assembly to enforce by-laws to the latter

CLaT prevention volunteers

3

Establish a community watch-dog committee (to be
visiting homes and survey the communities)

Community,

Report children indulge in indecent activities to

19

Assembly

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

DSW.
4

Frequent community sensitization on CLaT

Traditional leaders

6

Birth spacing strategies needs to be adopted

Community, GHS, NGOs

7

Work with teachers to increase school attendance.

Community, GES

8

Facilitate awareness and adoption family planning

Community, GHS, NGOs

Biriwa
Biriwa is a coastal fishing community in the Mfantseman District with most of the inhabitants
being indigenes. It is mostly hilly with undulating topography. It also has a slightly rocky
beachfront and a sandy canoe landing beach. Most households are involved in fishing and
fish processing as the major livelihood activity. Making and mending nets and selling of fish
coupled with and other petty trading also abound.
Incidences of CLaT in the Community
Children of both sexes aged between 4-18 years are involved in the various economic
activities. Many unfortunate children are sent to the forest zone to work on farms and to
Takoradi, Axim and Half Assini, Tema, and Abidjan in La Cote d’Ivoire to work in fisheries.
They were sent away by total strangers as well as immediate relatives.
It is widely acknowledged that child-workers are inexpensive and parents are easily wooed to
give out their children for money due to high levels of poverty. However, some children on
their own volition are eager to work because they must also find alternative ways to eat.
Many children of school-going age either drop out to engage in fishing, or travel to other
coastal communities for fishing activities. One female contributor said she lost her cousin as
a result of CLaT so she is ever ready to advocate for Child Education.
Children in school run away from school during break time to the beach to work during the
peak fishing season. Most of the children (especially the males) are not interested in going to
school but rather interested in fishing. Some children talked to said they were just not
interested in school.
Most contributors during the drama agreed that it will be good to improve access to birthcontrol services because it will reduce high birth rate, ensure proper child care as well as
reducing teenage pregnancy.
Suggested Community Strategies to Help Reduce CLaT
Table 9 Suggested strategies for reducing CLaT in Biriwa.

NO STRATEGIES

RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

1
2
3
4
5
7
8

Unit committee members
CLaT prevention advocates
CLaT prevention advocates
Traditional leaders
Traditional leaders
GHS, Community
Anti-CLaT advocates

Enactment of by-laws
District Assembly to enforce by-laws to the letter
Report irresponsible parents to the DSW
Frequent community sensitization on CLaT
Parent to collaborate with institution and agencies
Adopt birth spacing strategies
Report recalcitrant parents to the police

20

SNAPSHOTS OF STORIES FROM VICTIMS OF CLAT

I was a hard-working child so my parent decided to keep me in the fishing business. I
1. resisted but was not successful.
Many of my friends were taken from where we were sent to onwards to other countries
(Benin, Nigeria and La Cote d’Ivoire) on fishing expeditions and never returned to the
destination communities.
My master moved me round from place to place on a motorbike to go and fish for others
2. for a fee. Whenever we got to a police checkpoint and we are asked questions, he would
hit me in the ribs with his elbow when I attempted to talk. He always did all the talking
and gave the police some coins!
I was taken to Benin when I was a little boy to learn fishing as a trade. My stay in the
3. country was full of devastating experience.
Together with other children, I was sent on hazardous fishing expeditions many times. The
masters of the boats do not care about our health. What they are interested is money and
we are to work to make money.
I was always beaten because I could not paddle the boat very well. The beatings caused
some of my colleagues to become deaf, blind and other physical damages.
It was said that, the god of the sea has decreed that children’s body should not be searched
for when they drown. But domestic animals were searched for when they get missing.
I will not advise anybody to give his or her child out for fishing or any other activities.
My nephew was taken to Yeji to learn the fishing trade. I was later informed that he got
4. burnt in a boat and died.
He was then buried before the information of his death got to us. We could therefore not
do anything but to accept the news.
I travelled to Benin with my sister to ostensibly attend school and also for a better life. My
5. sister later handed me over to a fisher to work for him.
I was sleeping on cement papers behind the door while my master and his wife and
c